Felt hardening machine



W. H. KINGSTON FELT HARDENING MACHINE March 23, 1948.

Original Filed Nov. 30, 1944 Patented Mar. 23,, 1948 FELT HARDENING MACHINE William Henry Kingston, Drighlington, Bradford, England, assignor of one-half to William Bywater Limited, Holbeck, Leeds, England, a corporation of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Original application November. 30, 1944, Serial Divided and this application March 26, 1946, Serial No. 657,288. In Great Britain December 7,1943

(c1. zit-r14) 1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to felt hardening machines of the type comprising a pair of superposed heated tables between which the felt is passed to be compressed and worked in stages by pressure of the upper table and motion which is applied to one or both of the tables. The upper table is raised for the positioning of the felt and then allowed to bear down bodily on to the felt.

Felt hardening machines have the felt passed in stages between the tables (which are usually heated by steam) by a carrier band, on to which the felt is laid in one or more layers from batts suspended to unroll as required. When several superposed layers of felt are treated they may be compressed and worked as a whole into one piece or maintained separate by interposed separating sheets. The felt is submitted to a heat and moisture treatment, e. a, steam, prior to its passage to the tables which harden one section and then succeeding sections of the length of felt as it is passed in stages through the machine. Quite often only the upper table is caused to move for working the felt in one or more directions with a straight and/or circular motion. In one construction both tables have been given a straight line motion in the direction of the length of the table but in opposite directions. To achieve this the lower table is mounted on rocking pedestals.

All the above constructions furnish a more or less smooth action on the felt and it is contended by many people that a more savage action is required to speed up the felting operation and obtain a better felt. A big advantage with a machine having both tables moving is that the felt is worked equally on both sides and with proper motions excellent results can be obtained.

According to the present invention there is provided a felt hardening machine for felting and hardening felt between a pair of superposed flat tables wherein the lower table is supported by means of devices which are capable of affording free movement of the tables in all directions in a substantially horizontal plane, and means for imparting positive motion to at least said lower table in a predetermined manner.

According to a feature of the invention the lower table is supported on pedestals incorporating universal, ball or equivalent joints or bearmgs.

The invention includes a method of felting the felt in a hardening machine consisting in imparting a rectangular, angular or equivalent curved line motion, circular or elliptical motion to said lower table. These motions may be 2 adapted to have a so-called savage action on the felt.

' Referring now to the accompanying drawing in which an embodiment of the invention is shown by way of example only:

Fig. 1 is an end elevation of an improved felt hardening machine;

Fig. 2 is a part sectional enlarged view of one of the universal joints beneath the lower table.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the machine frame I is built up in a convenient manner to carry the shafts, gearing and other parts which include four pairs of spaced horizontal brackets 2 on the sides of the frame supporting vertical driving shafts 3. These shafts are driven through other shafts 4, 5, and gearing 5, 1, 8 from an electric motor or other power source in known manner. The upper end of each driving shaft 3 is provided with a device 9 which affords adjustable connection for a vertical driven shaft l0 mounted thereon to be set in or out of vertical alignment with its driving shaft.

A pair of superposed tables l8, H! which are heated by steam through pipe 20 (or other means), are mounted about the upper level of the machine frame and supported by four pedestals 2| arranged beneath the lower table and constructed to allow the latter free movement in any direction in a substantially horizontal plane. For example, a known form of universal joint comprising two pairs of jaws 22, 23 connected by a pivot member 24 having four trunnions 25 (a ball or equivalent joint, a ball thrust spherical bearing or the like may be used) is provided at the upper and lower end of each pedestal. This universal joint is shown more particularly in Fig. 2 wherein it will be seen the brackets 22 are secured to the underside of the lower table l9 (or the foundation) and the brackets 23 are fixed to the pedestals 2|. Each bracket has removable caps 26 coacting therewith to house roller bearings 21 which are mounted on to the trunnions 25. The pivot member 24 is simply a separate central body with two pairs of aligned trunnions projecting therefrom at right angles to one another.

The upper table is supported by the lower when pressing upon felt 25 and both tables receive positive motion from the aforesaid driven shafts Ill, each of which carries a cam or eccentric. The eccentric arrangement can be achieved by adjusting the shafts I!) out of centre. The cams or eccentrics are mounted in the brackets 29 which are fixed to the two tables and the upper cams or eccentrics are splined or otherwise mounted to move on the shafts ID to enable the upper, table to beraised ang lowered.

The impro d -felt 'hardeningf rnach modified'invai iou's ways particularly in struction of the motion imparting devices.

The feature of the invention is the mounting of the" lower table in a manner which enablesa vari ety;

of motions to be imparted thereto instead of the lower table being limited to sta' ht fli in opposite directions. Othe it ings could be used which wio h I in any direction in a substaiitially"hori plane. In the illustrated construction separate driving shafts H! are provided" lower tables but each shajft may operate tables. The means for raising the upper fortheupp hand table;

may comprise four racks 35, operated by wornf gearing 36 and pinions 31 (or other means);

which bear up against the upper table as shown, oigthe, cam-or eccentric brackets-(mother parts of the upper table.

wh saepli at oa i51 divis qn imt q q d a plicati n eri -1N fi N m 30, 1944. V

mot on; to, the lower table. 7 r

HENRY KINGSTON.

IgE ErtENcEs CITED 'pne following references are of rec'ord in the file Qfi-thifi patent;

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 2,887 Great Britain 1864 72,026:- France June 22; 1866 4 19 230 Germany. Septi24; 1925 movementuthereof, and means forim- 

